What options exist for BB 440 engines? Auto, Manual, both...

[ViperMan]

Hey all,

As I just about have the major details of the engine determined now - bore and stroke, intake, carb, headers, and almost the heads (I think I've decided not to hold them under a budget, but just to get the best that I can afford,) I've been considering tranny options.

The challenge is that I want this car to do good, reliable strip performance occasionally but not often.  But I also want a car that can cruise on the highway with at LEAST a 1:1 ratio from the tranny...

This obviously makes an automatic a second-best choice - a manual will practically let me pick any ratio I want...  An auto would have to be spread somewhat wide to give me this performance.

What I'm really wondering is what are my options for tranny's both factory and aftermarket, auto and manual?

I know I can go with a 727, I know Keisler has a 4-speed with overdrive that supposedly gives good acceleration...  Of course for manual there's tremec's, or Keisler has some other options too.

So what else is there?  I'm looking for product names, maybe websites.  I can get prices, so don't worry about that.

Jeff

[ViperMan]

Nobody likes answerin' 73Barracuda's posts anymore... 

*pout*

[Husker Cuda]

I'm puttin in a 512 stroker with a 3:25 rear and a good ole A-833 4 speed.   

[tactransman]

A 518 auto 4 speed? 

[Chryco Psycho]

the Cheap route is the 833OD , bolts in & gives a .71 od in 4th
 Passon has various 4 spd versions as well That bolt in , Passonperf.com

[sleepychallenger]

pm sent

[HP2]

727 auto, 904 auto, 500 auto, 518 auto, powerglide auto, 480LE auto, gearvendors OD for auto.

A833 4spd, 833 od 4spd, TKO500 5 spd, TKO600 5spd, Richmond T10 4spd, Richmond 5 spd, Richmond 5+1 6 speed, T5 5 spd, T56 6 spd, gear vendoers OD for four speeds.

Choices are wide and varied depending on how you want to drive it, how extensive your fab skills are, or how much money you want to spend.

[Pistol Gripper]

For me,  the leader in the bang for the buck category is the A-833OD.  They're cheap to buy, easy to install and durable.

P.G.

[sleepychallenger]

but hard to find a BB Bell housing 

For me,  the leader in the bang for the buck category is the A-833OD.  They're cheap to buy, easy to install and durable.

P.G.

[HP2]

I think you just change out the front bearing retainer to fit the bell housing you have, and your in business. there are vendors that offer all three sizes now, so it should be an easy deal.

[sleepychallenger]

more so speaking of used ones. too poor to get a brand new one.

[73EStroker]

If you get the A833OD you machine the front retainer down to minimum near the retainer bolts - about 4.8" (someone provide the correct dimension here please). You cannot go any smaller or interchange the front retainer for a smaller unit as the front bearing in the OD unit is larger than the standard units. Then you machine out a BB bellhousing to fit like I did. The reason I cannot provide the correct dimensions is that everything is installed now and inaccessible to measure. My bellhousing is a cast iron 65-66 426 Max Wedge unit and it fits just fine now.

[ViperMan]

If I went with a 4-speed auto, how would that work with the factory Slap-Stick?  Would I not be able to use that?

I guess for me, it's either going to be 4-speed with the factory slap-stick, or I'll start looking manual.  If I can't keep the slap-stick, I'm not keeping an auto.    I reeeeealllly like the slap-stick console shift!

 

Jeff